Frank Lampard’s Everton and Dean Smith’s Norwich Cry will play their part in the deciding factor on who out of Arsenal or Tottenham will qualify for Champions League football next term. Spurs’ 3-0 victory over Mikel Arteta’s side threw the destination of the final top-four place back into the stratosphere as both now battle to make the cut for the top four. Antonio Conte’s men had built on the North London derby victory with their tight 1-0 win over Burnley on Sunday, which handed the Gunners all the pressure going into their fixture against Newcastle United.
Antonio Conte said: “I am very happy because I saw a team that improved a lot step by step and now I think deserves, in the same way like Arsenal, to go for a place in the Champions League but we will see what happens at the end of the season. For us another game against Norwich. It won’t be easy, there are no easy games, but I think it was positive for the team, for the players, for the club to fight for something important. Because, as the Italian joked, while he loves football, he also enjoys suffering. I think first of all we had to do our task and to win and get three points and put some pressure on Arsenal. We know very well it is not easy to play against Newcastle and especially when they arrive with the new manager and in a good spell and not an easy game, but it will be the same for us in Norwich, and the last game against Everton for Arsenal. For sure I will watch the game because I love football and I want to watch and I want also to suffer! But I think it is a big achievement for the last game to have the possibility to take a place into Champions League because I don’t forget our path since November and we will see what happens. I also think Arsenal did a really good job this season because they didn’t play in Europe and now they have a chance to play in the Champions League.”
With Conte and his Spurs troops watching on from, their counterparts from the capital never really got going at St James’ Park. Eddie Howe’s side, who dominated possession throughout the contest had their hard work pay dividends in the second half as Callum Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes moved Tottenham a massive step closer to top four.
